The Los Angeles Sparks’ impressive run took a hit on Tuesday night as they fell 105-97 to the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena. Despite the setback, Sparks star guard Kelsey Plum made history by setting a new single-season free throw record for the franchise, further highlighting her impact even in a tough loss.
Plum’s Record-Breaking Performance Anchors Sparks’ Offense
Kelsey Plum led all scorers with 26 points, contributing five rebounds and five assists over 34 minutes. Notably, she sank all eight of her free throw attempts, completing a perfect night at the line. With those eight free throws, Plum surpassed Lisa Leslie’s previous franchise record by reaching 172 free throws made this season through 31 games, breaking Leslie’s mark of 169 made in 32 games set back in 2000.
Alongside Plum, forward Dearica Hamby added 21 points in 32 minutes, providing a strong secondary scoring option for the Sparks. Despite these efforts, the Sparks could not maintain enough momentum through the full game.
Competitive Quarters and Late Rally Fall Short
The Sparks matched the Liberty in scoring for both the first and third quarters, showing flashes of strong offensive play. In the closing minutes, guard Julie Vanloo ignited hope for a comeback by hitting a three-pointer with just over three minutes remaining, narrowing New York’s lead to seven points.
DON’T COUNT ‘EM OUT JUST YET! Julie Vanloo brings the Sparks back within seven after knocking down the triple with just over three minutes of play left! NYL-LAS I League Pass I WNBA Rivals Week presented by @Ally pic.twitter.com/TDOjoTCCFF
Reflections from the Team on Maintaining Momentum
Following the loss, Hamby emphasized the importance of staying focused. She stated,
[We plan to] just continue the momentum we’ve had the last 12 games. One game shouldn’t break us. Like I said, we did a lot of things well, and we didn’t play our best basketball, but we have really important games coming up that we should win, and [we’ll] go from there,
Hamby said following the loss.
Head coach Lynne Roberts also acknowledged the defensive lapses that hindered the team’s chances, commenting,
Defensively, we were not great, giving up 105 [points]. We just were a little bit off, but we still scored almost 100 and did some good things. But you have to give credit to New York, I thought they did a good job.
Sparks Prepare for Upcoming Match Against Dallas Wings
After the defeat, the Sparks look ahead to their next contest on the road against the Dallas Wings this Friday. With Plum’s historic free throw achievement and solid offensive efforts from multiple starters, the team hopes to regroup and build momentum for crucial games ahead.